THE LEGEND tells that Bodhidharma crossed the Yangtse River on a reed and travelled to northern China. There he settled at the Shaolin Monastery and transmitted the patriarchy to Hui Ko. Soon afterwards Bodhidharma died in 528. A few years after his death, a Chinese official reported that he had encountered Bodhidharma in the mountains of Central Asia.
Bodhidharma was then carrying a staff; a single sandal was hanging from it. He told that he was on his way back to India. When this story reached his Chinese home, fellow monks decided to open Bodhidharma's tomb.Inside there was only one sandal.

The story somehow continues in Japan.When Shootoku Taishi walked along the village of Kataoka, he met a poor man and gave him a purple cloth. But the man died the next day. When they opened his grave, there was no body found, just the purple cloth folded nicely.
"This must have been Daruma, the Founder of Zen" was the verdict of Shootoku Taishi.
So "It takes a holy man to recognize another holy man!"

quoteBodhidharmaPutidamo (chin.), Bodhidaruma (jap.), Indian monk, living i China in VI century and cosiders as foundator of school Ch'an. Halflegendar person and surrounded with many myths. After arriving to China at year 520, he was received by Emperor Wu who had many merrits for Buddhism because of foundating of Buddhist temples and helping to monks.

During talking, emperor asked: which merits do you have? --
Bodhidharma said: "none".
Then the emperor asked:
what is the heart of the Buddhism? He answered:

"Only emptiness -- none sanctity".

After the meeting with emperor, Bodhidharma went to Shaolin monastery, where he spent nine years facing to rock wall. Probably he return to India but before the departure pointed out his successor Huike who is considered as the second patriarch of Ch'an.